ODM party leader Raila Odinga holds hands with Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba. The political fall-out in ODM heightened Sunday with calls for the top party leadership to step down and allow a new group to steer it to the next elections. PHOTO| JACOB OWITI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The political fall-out in ODM heightened Sunday with calls for the top party leadership to step down and allow a new group to steer it to the next elections.
At the Coast, three ODM lawmakers met Mining Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala to discuss plans by the leaders to seek a new political party on which to contest the 2017 elections.
In the past, Mr Balala has offered the Republican Congress Party as a vehicle for political leaders from the Coast.
In what that appears to be growing feelings of dissent, Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka said ODM had failed to give way to new leaders to take charge of the party. Mr Onyonka, who has argued that Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero should take over from Mr Odinga, said the old guard should step down.
“ODM must accept that young leaders are here who can lead the country and propel the party to greater heights; they should be given a chance.” he said during a fundraiser at Nyabururu Parish Church in Kisii.
Mr Onyonka was joined by Borabu MP Ben Momanyi who criticised politicians who have warned Dr Kidero to stop holding harambees in Nyanza.
“Nyanza is your home Governor Kidero and you are welcome any time,” he said.
Mr Onyonka told Dr Kidero not to give up on his dream, saying other leaders would support him. “I believe your dreams are valid and that you mean well for this country,” he said.
Dr Kidero steered clear of ODM politics but hinted that he might be interested in the presidency.
“We want to get into government so that we ensure more funds are given to the counties when we are in place. We will use all doors to ensure that we are in government.” He however failed to mention when he will be running for the top seat.
Meanwhile, Mr Odinga, through his spokesman, Mr Dennis Onyango, has denied claims that he had scheduled a meeting with MPs Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i) and Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North) and ODM executive officer Magerer Lang’at this week.
“The only meeting taking place on ODM matters this week is that of the disciplinary committee formed to look into the events of Thursday 30th October 2014 at Orange House that saw the eviction of Mr Lang’at from a party meeting,” Mr Onyango said in a statement Sunday.
It had been reported that Mr Odinga and his Wiper Democratic Party counterpart, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, were concerned about a recent meeting in Mombasa between Mr Namwamba, Mr Mung’aro, Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua and Mr Lang’at.
A photo posted on one of the social media platforms by Dr Mutua is said to have sparked anxiety with the Cord leaders reading more to the meeting.
Speculation of a possible new political alliance since the photo was posted online has been rife.
In his statement, Mr Onyango said neither Mr Odinga nor Mr Musyoka had made any calls to any of the Cord leaders who met in Mombasa on Thursday.
“We have made this clarification this early to save everyone from spending this day and this week on a wild goose chase for a meeting that will not happen,” the statement said.
In Mombasa, MPs Khatib Mwashetani (Ford-Kenya), Mr Mung’aro (ODM), Fatuma Mohammed (ODM, nominated) met Mr Balala at Whitesands Hotel to seek an alternative plan for the region in readiness for the next elections.
Mr Khatib said the meeting was a scheme to strengthen ODM’s ‘Team Fresh’ alluding to the Hassan Joho-Namwamba camp that missed takeover of the party after the aborted February 28 elections.
“Time is now ripe for the takeover from the old guard who have been in business for long without success,” he said.
Mr Mung’aro said they held healthy discussions about politics and other issues affecting the country.
“We shall engage other friendly people to dinners and tea to streamline the politics of the Coast region,” he said. “Whenever leaders from other regions are around, we will not cow but welcome them and sell ourselves in development politics.”
Mr Balala, who supported Mr Odinga’s bid for the presidency in 2007, said time had come for youthful leaders to inject “freshness” in the way politics was conducted in the country.
“If you are not on the round table, you are not with us. We are starting a movement for political power,” he said.
Ms Fatuma said she was in the team of leaders who welcomed ‘ODM fresh’ leadership. She asked seasoned leaders to quit and allow vibrant successors with new ideas to takeover.
“North Eastern is ready for change and we shall support the youthful movement,” she said.
Reports by Brian Moseti, Caroline Wafula, Bozo Jenje and Mwakera Mwajefa
| 
0 Comments